Watch Rodney King

Rodney King is a riveting one-man show that delves into the events surrounding the brutal beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Department officers in 1991. The film, directed by Spike Lee, stars Roger Guenveur Smith portraying Rodney King himself, as well as a variety of other figures from the ensuing trial and civil unrest that shook Los Angeles to its core.

The film begins with Smith performing a monologue in the character of Rodney King himself, reflecting on the events of his life up until the point of the assault. The show then transitions to key moments during the trial itself, beginning with the testimony of King's friends and witnesses to the beating, before eventually moving into the controversial verdict and eventual acquittal of the four police officers involved in the assault.

Throughout the show, Smith skillfully slips into a variety of roles, including police officers, judges, jurors, and Los Angeles politicians. The show also features an array of archival footage from the period itself, with Smith's character reacting to the images as they unfold before him.

Of particular note in the film is the way in which Smith captures the intense emotions on both sides of the trial. As he shifts between different roles, his portrayals of both the police officers and jurors involved in the trial are not unsympathetic, forcing the viewer to confront the complexities of the issues at hand.

Overall, Rodney King is a complex and powerful film that forces the viewer to confront some of the most difficult issues of race and justice in contemporary America. Through Smith's unforgettable performance and a brilliant directorial vision from Spike Lee, the film shines a light on one of the most critical moments in American history, drawing important lessons about the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.

Rodney King is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 78.